Bicycle fairing and bracket therefor

Abstract

A bicycle fairing comprising a unitary molded body carrying a transparent windshield, brace means for securing said fairing body to the handlebars of a bicycle and a bracket which enables securement of the body of the fairing to the fork holder of the bicycle and positions the fairing properly relative to the bicycle to enable proper securement of the brace means thereto. The bracket comprises a planar mid-portion and a pair of end bends, respectively extending in opposed directions but in parallel planes. The single bracket receives the fork holder of the bicycle through a passage formed in one end bend so that the coupling means which secures the fork holder to the bicycle frame can be used to complete the assembly of fairing body to the bicycle. The length of the mid-portion of the bracket is selected to enable coupling of the fairing to a bicycle or to the so-called "hi-rise" model by 180° rotation of the bracket about its axis. The opposite bend is provided with suitable passageways capable of matching with similar passageways formed in the fairing to enable passage of fastening means therethrough.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A bicycle fairing for a bicycle having a frame, handlebar, fork holder and releasable coupling securing the handlebar to the fork holder, the fairing comprising a unitary body of dish-shaped configuration including a nose, a floor extending rearwardly from the nose, a curved top extending rearwardly but upwardly from the nose and a pair of curved wings, side portions joining said floor and wings, each side portion including an area having a 90° inward curvature, a transparent shield secured to said body between the wings, brace means secured to said wings and extending rearwardly thereof on opposite sides of said shield, clamp means carried by said brace means for coupling same to the handlebar and a bracket capable of securing the fairing to the fork holder, said bracket being rotable 180° about its axis whereby to enable assembly of said fairing to one or the other of the conventional and hi-rise bicycles. 
     
     
       2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 in which said bracket comprises a planar member having a pair of opposite angular end bends, said bends respectively extending in opposite directions. 
     
     
       3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 in which the bracket has a first passageway formed in one bend and a second passageway formed in the opposite bend, means formed in the fairing floor cooperating with said second passageways when the fork holder is accommodated through said first passageway for receiving fastening means. 
     
     
       4. The invention as claimed in claim 3 in which the length of the planar mid-portion of said bracket between said bends is selected to be one-half the distance between the fork holder and the handlebar coupling assembly. 
     
     
       5. A bicycle fairing comprising a unitary molded shield of generally triangular configuration having a forward nose portion, a pair of rearwardy extending curved wing portions flaring rearwardly and outwardly of said nose portion, a transparent windscreen and means for securing said windscreen to the shield between the wings, brace means secured to said shield along the juncture between said windscreen and said shield and an attachment bracket, the brace means adapated to be secured to the handlebars of a bicycle and the attachment bracket capable of being secured to the fork holder of the bicycle, said attachment bracket comprising a flat member having a pair of end bend portions, one end portion having a passage of size and configuration to receive the fork holder therethrough and the opposite end portion having means for securing said shield thereto, the end portions being in parallel planes and having the same angular relationship with said flat member but directed in opposite directions, said bracket enabling installation of the fairing on conventional and hi-rise bicycles with only a 180° rotation of the bracket about its axis.